The corrupt can run but they can’t hide

Jun 15, 2015 News

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– anti-corruption conventions give Govt. power to find them – Economist

By: Kiana Wilburg

They can run but they can’t hide.
That’s the reassurance that Economist Dr. Clive Thomas is giving the nation regarding corrupt Guyanese officials who may try to escape prosecution after fleecing the nation of billions.
While the new government is investing in forensic audits into almost 30 state agencies, national projects and funds, there has been some fear that the perpetrators could flee to safer pastures and escape prosecution.
It’s an understandable apprehension, says Dr. Thomas. But he believes that this should not be the case.
He opined that the forensic auditors should, in accordance with the law, ensure that suspects of the financial crimes be questioned and asked to cooperate by not leaving the country.
But should those under investigation still try to escape to other territories where they stashed their ill gotten cash; there is still no need to despair.

Dr. Thomas noted that Guyana has signed onto two conventions against corruption, which ensure corrupt officials cannot be insulated from prosecution regardless of where they seek refuge.
“So even though there is the fear that when the forensic audits are done we wouldn’t be able to find the culprits, don’t worry, they can run but they can’t hide. Wherever they go, the conventions give us the power to find them and bring them back to face the law.”
Dr. Thomas reminded that it was under the previous administration that Guyana became a signatory to the Inter American Convention Against Corruption and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
He added, “We signed onto the conventions which demand of us certain obligations like rooting out corruption. So we don’t have to go and draft legislation to ensure that we hold certain persons accountable for their actions. The very conventions require this and since it was signed by the previous administration it puts the liability on them.”
The economist asserted that the new government, in taking such a step would only be enforcing an obligation Guyana took solemnly by signing on to the two conventions.
He said that should Government pursue this, it would turn out to be a “win-win” situation for the nation.
Economist, Dr. Clive Thomas believes that in the pursuit of justice for the nation, there is a need for government to demonstrate its intolerance of corruption by sending a strong message to those who stole from the country and those who landed the country into the financial mess that it is currently in.
He emphasized that those of the previous administration found culpable will have to recompense in some way. Dr. Thomas said it is important for the full extent of the law to be allowed to manifest but in a timely manner.
“If the APNU+AFC Government wants to demonstrate that it is serious about the war against corruption, then we need to see them making tangible efforts to ensure that those who did the crime do the time. Otherwise it is just campaign talk all over again,” he added.
He noted that forensic audits can be completed in about a week to one month or can last longer depending on the complexity of the agency.
Finance Minister, Winston Jordan, has placed Minister within the Ministry of Finance, Jaipaul Sharma, in charge of organizing the teams to conduct the forensic audits.
He said that Government will be going after the “big fishes” which have been listed among the first batch of agencies to be audited. These include the National Industrial and Commercial Investments Limited (NICIL), the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) and the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Jordan said that the audits are being conducted to determine how the assets of the state were sold, disposed of or transferred under the previous administration.
Chartered Accountants, Chris Ram and Anand Goolsarran have already been drafted into the forensic auditing team.
While there have been several contentions over GGMC funds, the Finance Minister made it clear that everything will be done to ensure that all monies flow to the right place—The Consolidated Fund.
He had also conducted preliminary discussions with NICIL’s Head Winston Brassington and GRA Commissioner General, Khurshid Sattaur on the said audits.
Apart from being accused of having a “family affair” at the tax office, Sattaur was also bashed by the APNU+AFC when it was in the opposition for misusing his powers.
On October 6, 2014, APNU threatened that it would bring a malfeasance in office charge against Sattaur.
This came after the revelation of the Commissioner General sending emails containing the tax information of several media houses to former President Bharrat Jagdeo.
This information was then forwarded to former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, had contended that that action is, without a doubt, an undeniable breach of the Oath of Secrecy that was taken by the Chartered Accountant.
He had said, “He (Sattaur) has inflicted diseases on the GRA, those being—disregard for professional ethics, disregard for the rights of citizens to confidentiality, disregard for integrity that his office should have, and most of all a blatant disrespect to the fourth estate’s right to freedom of speech and the country’s right to democracy. They are now spreading to the other Ministries.”
Asked recently if government is willing to make its systems work even if it means working along with people it had accused of malfeasance in office, Harmon answered, “Certainly not.”
As for NICIL’s Head, Winston Brassington, the APNU+AFC was also relentless in condemning the official for his involvement in several alleged corrupt activities.
On numerous occasions, calls were made for him to hit the road too. He has been at the helm of some of the most controversial projects including the Marriott Hotel, funded with mostly taxpayers’ money.
Brassington has been blamed as well for being unable to deal with the significant line losses incurred by the Guyana Power and Light.
Though some may feel that the democratic process is actually holding the nation back from seeing justice in quick time, he noted that one must seek comfort in the fact that the legal procedures are in place to prevent those seeking justice from being consumed by the traits of the very evil they are trying to rid the society of.
“We have to follow the democratic ways outlined, those ways designed to ensure that we arrest, prosecute and jail the perpetrators, but through due process. But Guyana really needs to utilize the Convention which China is doing,” The economist noted.
He said that in China, there is a war on financial dishonesty.
Dr. Thomas noted that China has sought foreign aid to help in locating corrupt officials who have fled the country with taxpayers’ money.
In fact, China has moved towards setting up an anti-corruption and transparency network. The initiative was endorsed by the leaders of Asia-Pacific countries and will allow for member states to exchange information on corruption cases. The USA also threw its support behind the programme.
But China’s efforts did not stop there. The country then created a programme called Sky Net to prevent corrupt officials under investigation from leaving the country and bring an end to monies being transferred to offshore accounts.
Dr. Thomas said that China was able to do this due to the use of its membership in the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.
He said that should Guyana utilize its membership it would be able to do the same.

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